Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica), downtown Portal, AZ, Cochise County

This Yellow-throated Warbler was discovered by Olga Harbour and her husband in downtown Portal on 27 March 2009.  It was photographed by John Yerger on 14 April 2009 and by Rose Ann Rowlett on 19 April 2009.

Yellow-throated Warbler is a casual transient in Arizona with about 20 previous records, although only a couple since 2000.   However, this is the third documented report of this species in the last 12 months, so there is a possibility its occurrence is increasing. 

Note the yellow throat, black auriculars with white spot behind them and the white eyeline.  The photos clearly show this bird is of the western D. d. albilora race.  This race has a white or pale yellow supraloral stripe (the part of the white eyebrow near the bill) whereas the other races of D. dominica have bright yellow supraloral stripes. 

14 April 2009, photos by John Yerger

19 April 2009, photo by Rose Ann Rowlett

All photos are copyrighted© by photographer

 

Map to Portal:

View 2009 Rarities Map in a larger map